Containerships cut greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4pc during 2016

TWENTY-TWO of the world's top ocean liners that represent 87 per cent of the global container shipping industry by volume and collectively operate 3,200 ships, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 2.4 per cent (per TEU-kilometres) from 2015 to 2016. This represents a lower rate of improvement than in previous years.

This data was published in San Francisco-based Business for Social Responsibility's (BSR) Clean Cargo Working Group's (CCWG) 2016 Global Maritime Trade Lane Emissions Factors report.

This was first year that 100 per cent of carriers included in the emissions factors were verified using the CCWG procedure and guidance for verifying CO2 and SOx data.

The Clean Cargo Working Group now includes 22 container carriers and 28 of this industry's largest customers' both global brands and freight forwarders. APL Logistics, CEVA Logistics, EFL, Expeditors International, LF Logistics, Panalpina Management Ltd, Philips Lighting, and SAT Albatros all joined in 2017.

"In joining CCWG, we join a group of peers dedicated to accelerating sustainability in the container shipping industry," said Philips Lighting eco chief Nicola Kimm.

The group continues to foster environmental performance innovations for the sector, such as a pilot by members Electrolux and Hamburg Sud to reduce pollution in ports.